Game

ABSTRACT

Game apparatus for a race-type chance game comprising a large number of containers, each enclosing a simulated colored pill and having a cap for normally closing the container and concealing the pill color. The closed containers are randomly disposed in a central bowl and the players compete to find all of the pills of a given color by sequentially opening and closing the containers.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Marvin I. Glass;

Jeffrey D. Breslow, both of Chicago, Ill. 21 Appl. No. 794,912 [22] Filed Jan. 29, I969 [45] Patented July 6, I971 [73] Assignee Marvin Glass & Associates Chicago, Ill.

[54] GAME 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] 0.8. CI 273/! R, 273/86 A, 273/139 [5|] Int. Cl. A63f9/00 [50] Field ofSeareh 273/l, 139, I57, 86 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,80l,l08 7/1957 Peterson 2,984,487 5/1961 Schiffman 273/139 3,424,455 1/1969 Dunson 273/1 3,484,105 12/1969 Winston....................... 273/1, FOREIGN PATENTS 10,653 0/1911 GreatBritain 273/157 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorneys-lanes F. Coffee and Gerald M. Newman ABSTRACT: Game apparatus for a race-type chance game comprising a large number of containers, each enclosing a simulated colored pill and having a cap for normally closing the container and concealing the pill color. The closed containers are randomly disposed in a central bowl and the players compete to find all of the pills of a given color by sequentially opening and closing the containers.

GAME

DISCLOSURE This invention relates in general to games. In particular, this invention relates to racing-type games which require a substantial amount of luck and a limited amount of strategy on the part of the game players. Due to the limited strategy and its simplicity, the game apparatus of the invention is particularly suitable for use by young game players.

The game apparatus of the invention comprises a plurality of individual containers having closure members which allow each of the containers to be opened individually to reveal the identity of its contents. A playing piece, such as a simulated pill, is placed in each container thereby normally concealing its identity. The pills comprise a number of color identifiable l; groups and several special 37 joker pills. The closed containers are randomly placed in a bowl and a chance device bearing indicia related to the different playing piece groups, is operated. The players then compete to be first to locate a pill of the indicated color by rapidly opening the containers, one by one, identifying the contents, and returning the container to the bowl if the proper color has not been selected. A receptacle in the manner of a simulated reclining figure having an enlarged, generally hollow, abdomen is provided for storing the located pills.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide game apparatus useable in a competitive chance game suitable for being played by young children.

Another object of this invention is to provide game apparatus for use by young children in playing a competitive chance game which is unusual, novel, and exciting.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent to those versed in the game art upon an understanding of the following detailed description of the game apparatus and its rules of play taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the game apparatus is shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a three dimensional view of the game apparatus of the invention including aplurality of closed containers 10, playing piece receptacles 12 and a chance device 14;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, three dimensional exploded view of a container and a playing piece;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, elevational cross-sectional view of a receptacle I2 shown in FIG. I; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the chance device for use with the game apparatus of the invention.

Turning now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the game apparatus of the invention generally comprises a bowl 16 randomly receiving a plurality of closed containers 10 each of which contains a difierent playing piece 18 normally concealed therein. The containers and the enclosed playing pieces are selected from the bowl, as the players attempt to locate a particular color of playing piece indicated by a chance device 14. Located playing pieces are deposited in receptacles 12 provided for each of the game players.

Bowl 16 is supported on an upright cylindrical sidewall 20 which includes an interior dish shaped member 22 suitable for randomly receiving a large number of containers 10.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the containers are cylindrically shaped and comprise a cylindrical sidewall 24 having an integral bottom wall, not shown, and an upper closure member such as a cap 26. Cap 26 is formed by a circular top 30 wall having a depending circular flange 32 which is suitably interiorly sized to frictionally accommodate the exterior of sidewall 24 to provide a friction fit closure for the containers. The friction fit enables the containers to be quickly opened to observe flavor and character to the game. However, other playing piece shapes simulating other items may be used with the game apparatus of the invention without departing from its inventive concept.

Turning now to PEG. 3, in addition to FIG. I, a receptacle I2 is provided for each of the game players. Each receptacle comprises a simulated reclining figure having extending body leg members 432, a body head member M, and an enlarged middle or abdominal body portion 46 forming a generally hollow cavity for receiving and temporarily storing pill playing pieces located by the game players. The configuration of receptacle t2 simulating a reclining patient and the location of the hollow cavity in the abdominal region of the patient, simulates the ingestion of pills and enhances the amusement aspect and appearance of the game apparatus. Finally, the game apparatus of the invention includes a spinner chance device 14 having a freely rotatable pointer 50 and a plurality of circumferentially disposed color referenced indicia areas 51. As the spinner is operated by a player, it randomly stops at an indicia area thereby indicating a particular pill color which the players attempt to locate in competition with one another in accordance with the rules of play.

In the preferred embodiment of the game apparatus, twenty identically shaped pill containers l0 and an equal number of pill playing pieces B8 are provided. The playing pieces comprise six different pill groups, with three pills in each group. The pills are colored to identify the group to which they belong and may include such colors as red, blue, green, yellow, white and brown. As noted above, the pill colors are also indicated in the indicia areas $11 of the chance device. In addition to the 18 colored pills two colorless pills are provided and are used as jolrers" in accordance with the rules of play.

In accordance with the rules, one pill playing piece 18 is placed in each or" the 20 containers i0 and the cover members 26 are applied so that each playing piece is concealed in its container. The containers are randomly placed in bowl 16 and further intermixed if necessary. A receptacle 12 is issued to each game player for storage of playing pieces located during the game play.

At the beginning of a game round, a chosen player spins the chance device and all the players observe the pointer as it stops and indicates a particular pill color. immediately, the players simultaneously reach into the bowl and remove one pill container which they open by removing the cap to observe and determine whether the color of the enclosed pill is the same as the color indicated by the chance device. If a player fails to choose a container having the indicated pill color, he replaces the cap, returns the container to the bowl, and removes another container which he similarly opens and in spects for the indicated color. The players may continue to select and inspect containers from the bowl one at a time, until one player finds a container having a pill bearing the indicated color. The player who finds the indicated pill color communicates his find to the remaining game players by shouting the name of the particular color. This pill is removed from the container and placed in the particular players receptacle 12. Only one player in each round may retain a pill. Thus, it is not only necessary to find a pill of the indicated color first, but it is also necessary to signal the other players that you have found the pill. After hearing the signal the other players must stop selecting containers. if all the pills of one color group have been removed from the bowl, the spinner is simply respun.

Upon a player fortuitously finding a colorless or joker" pill playing piece, the other players are appropriately signalled of the find which stops the game play of that round. No other players are allowed to keep a pill for that round, and the joker allows the particular player who found it to appropriate of the game play. If the game players do not have any pills in their receptacles, the joker is useless but still must be returned.

The first player to obtain all three pills of a single color group is the winner. These pills may be obtained by selecting them from the bowl or by appropriating them from other players by using the joker While the disclosed embodiment of the game apparatus of the invention utilizes simulated pills and a simulated human body receptacle, other embodiments of the invention may enclose food items in containers and utilize simulated skillets as the receptacles.

It is obvious that upon study by those skilled in the art, the disclosed invention may be altered or modified in other ways without departing from its inventive concept.

We claim:

1. Game apparatus for use by a number of game players comprising: a plurality of randomly disposed different playing pieces; means comprising a plurality of similar, normally closed containers for receiving and concealing said playing pieces in a manner such that they may be individually exposed to view for identification thereof; and chance device for indicating which of said different playing pieces are to be located by said players; whereby said game players compete to quickly locate an indicated playing piece.

2. The game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said playing pieces form a number of separately identifiable playing piece groups, each of said players competing to locate a number of playing pieces of one group, and including additionally: other identifiable playing pieces which reward a player by allowing him to take any playing piece previously located by another player.

3. The game apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said playing pieces simulate pills, each of said pill groups bearing a different color and including additionally: a number of simulated figures having enlarged body portions forming concave receptacles for receiving located playing pieces.

4. Game apparatus for use by a number of game players comprising: a plurality of playing pieces forming a number of separately identifiable playing piece groups; a plurality of randomly disposed, normally closed containers suitable for receiving and concealing said playing pieces, and operable to expose said pieces and chance means bearing indicia related to said playing piece groups for randomly indicating a playing piece to be located by a player, whereby said players compete to quickly open said containers and locate the indicated playmg piece.

5. The game apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said playing pieces simulate pills, and including additionally: a number of simulated figures having enlargedabdominal portions forming receptacles for receiving pills located by a player.

6. The game apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including additionally: other identifiable pills concealed in said containers which may be used to cause another game player to forfeit one of his located pills to the benefit of the player fortuitously locating one of said other pills, wherein said players compete to locate all of the pills forming a group. 

1. Game apparatus for use by a number of game players comprising: a plurality of randomly disposed different playing pieces; means comprising a plurality of similar, normally closed containers for receiving and concealing said playing pieces in a manner such that they may be individually exposed to view for identification thereof; and chance device for indicating which of said different playing pieces are to be located by said players; whereby said game players compete to quickly locate an indicated playing piece.
 2. The game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said playing pieces form a number of separately identifiable playing piece groups, each of said players competing to locate a number of playing pieces of one group, and including additionally: other identifiable playing pieces which reward a player by allowing him to take any playing piece previously located by another player.
 3. The game apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said playing pieces simulate pills, each of said pill groups bearing a different color and including additionally: a number of simulated figures having enlarged body portions forming concave receptacles for receiving located playing pieces.
 4. Game apparatus for use by a number of game players comprising: a plurality of playing pieces forming a number of separately identifiable playing piece groups; a plurality of randomly disposed, normally closed containers suitable for receiving and concealing said playing pieces, and operable to expose said pieces and chance means bearing indicia related to said playing piece groups for randomly indicating a playing piece to be located by a player, whereby said players compete to quickly open said containers and locate the indicated playing piece.
 5. The game appaRatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said playing pieces simulate pills, and including additionally: a number of simulated figures having enlarged abdominal portions forming receptacles for receiving pills located by a player.
 6. The game apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including additionally: other identifiable pills concealed in said containers which may be used to cause another game player to forfeit one of his located pills to the benefit of the player fortuitously locating one of said other pills, wherein said players compete to locate all of the pills forming a group. 